Aerosol spray device



NOV. 1966 2. c. VAN SCHWARTZ 3,282,510

AEROSOL SPRAY DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOR. ZOLLY C. VAN SCHWARTZ BY 7 I A TTORNEYS 5 Sheet s-Sheet 2 2 C, VAN SCHWARTZ AEROSOL SPRAY DEVICE T MM NJM T W T Nov. 1, 1966 Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTOR. ZOLLY C. VAN SCHWARTZ ATTORNEYS Nov. 1, 1966 2. c. VAN SCHWARTZ 3,282,510

AEROSOL SPRAY DEVICE Filed July 6, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ZOLLY C. VAN SCHWARTZ MM W165i ATTORNEYS United States Patent ice 3,282,510 AEROSOL SPRAY DEVHJE Zolly Carleton Van Schwartz, Englewood, C0l0., assignor to Deena S. Strauss and Don S. Strauss, Denver, Colo. Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,326 2 Claims. (Cl. 239-373) This invention relates to a spray apparatus and particularly to a hand-held and operated liquid spray gas pressurized type of apparatus .generally known as an aerosol spray can.

Many prior art devices of this type are charged with liquid and gas fluids and are useful to deliver a mixture of liquid and gas in the form of a spray until the gas pressure inside the device approaches that of the atmosphere. The spray then become weak, erratic and too high in liquid content for many purposes. The spray can together with its incompletely used contents is unsuitable for recharging with gas or liquid and is discarded. This results in considerable waste of materials and a relatively high price to pay for the convenience of spraying as compared to conventional ways of applying liquids to various types of objects.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an aerosol spray device adapted for multiple recharging with liquid and/or gas under pressure for multiple reuse.

Additional objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description, which is given primarily for purposes of illustration, and not limitation.

State briefly in general terms, the objects of this invention are attained by providing an aerosol spray device which includes a cannister or can and a removable lid, which remains attached thereto the spray control apparatus and a removable filler cap or plug which carries the gas pressurizing means and the relief pressure means. The device is recharged with liquid by simply removing the fluted filler cap or plug from the lid, charging the can with liquid, replacing the filler cap or plug in the lid 13 and repressurizing the can with gas. Pressurization and repressurization with gas are accomplished through the pressurization means carried by the filter cap without removal of the cap. A modification of the invention is the use of a built-in pump for pressurization to take the place of the external source of pressure which must be used with the pressurization means carried by the filler cap.

It is an advantageous feature of the invention that the multiple purpose filler cap can be removed for liquid recharging and also carries the gas pressurizing and relief pressure means. The construction of the device permits recharging with gas pressure without removal of any of the parts of the device when this pressure becomes insuflicient to propel liquid from the cannister and refilling with liquid is not required.

A more detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention is given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view showing the aerosol spray device charged with liquid and in the unactivated condition;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional elevational view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing details of a relief valve and gas repressurizing valve mounted in the device;

FIG. 3 is a partial elevational rear view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view drawn to an enlarged scale showing details of the unique nozzle construction of the device of FIG. 1 which imparts a whirling motion to the spray as it leaves the nozzle;

FIG. 5 is a partial front end view of the insert for the 3,282,510 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 nozzle of FIG. 4 showing the offset radial grooves on the face of the insert;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing a modification of the invention in which the repressurization valve is replaced by a pump and the relief valve is eliminated; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 of another modification of the invention showing the use of a tire valve core for valving liquid to the nozzle instead of a ball valve and diaphragm.

The can 10 is made of metal, plastic or other suitable material with or without coating. It may be coated with a metal such as zinc or tin or with a suitable lacquer or synthetic plastic. The materials chosen for can 10 will depend upon the chemical characteristics of the liquid 11 contained therein and the strength and thickness of the wall of the can will be designed to fit the required internal pressure requirements which can be regulated by the relief valve setting in accordance with safety requirements. Can 10 is externally threaded around its lip at 12 to mesh with the internal threads of lid 13 as shown at 14. A gasket 15 is used to seal the contents of can 10 against leakage. Lid 1.3 is made of the same materials as the cannister 10 and they are chosen in accordance with the factors considered in choosing the metal for the cannister.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, lid 13 is provided with a handle 16 integrally connected thereto. A rod 17 is slidabl y mounted in a tubular passage 18 which communicates with a tubular chamber 19 of somewhat larger diameter at its outer end. At the inner end of passage 18 is formed an aperture 21 in which is seated a ball valve 22. Ball valve 22 seats on diaphragm above stem 23 of a tire valve housed in a bore 24- in a fitting 26. Diaphragm 80 is seated over the bore between the ball valve 22 and stem 23 and prevents bleeding and overpressure. Fitting 26 is provided with a liquid supply tube 27 of suitable metal or synthetic plastic extending to the bottom of can 10, as shown, and is threaded into lid 13 by threaded engagement with a passage 23 integrally connected with the lid.

A loaded compression spring 29 is mounted in chamber 19 around the outer end of rod 17 to bear against the shoulder between passages 18 and 19 and the inner end of actuator 31 connected to the outer end of rod 17 and slidably mounted in chamber 19. A pin 32 and slot 33 arrangement limits the inward and outward movement of actuator 31.

A bore 36 is formed in lid 13 to communicate with bore 24 when the stem 23 is depressed. Bore 36 also communicates with a nozzle bore 37 formed in lid 13 and internally threaded to mesh with the external threads of a nozzle 38. Nozzle 38 is provided with an orifice 39 of suitable diameter to provide the desired spray geometry. An insert 83 is seated in the channel of the nozzle having a flattened surface 81 so that a passageway for fluid is formed between the surface 81 and the nozzle channel which communicates with offset radial grooves 84 and 86 (FIG. 4) on the beveled face 82 of the insert 83.

A pitot or sight tube 41 is mounted at its upper end in lid 13. It may be press-fitted into a recess in lid 13 or made integral therewith as shown. A plug cap 43, preferably of fluted design to facilitate removal, is threadedly engaged in lid 13, as indicated at 42, and in axial alignment with tube 41. A relief valve 44 is threadedly mounted in bore 46 which communicates with the inside of can 10 through tube 41 and bore 47. Relief valve 44 is set to pop at a pressure in excess of a safe valve to avoid an unsafe pressure inside can 10. A tire valve core 48, such as the type sold on the market by A. S-chraders Son of Brooklyn, New York, also is threadedly mounted 3 in cap 43 in a bore 49 which communicates with the inside of can 10 through tube 41 and bore 51. Tire valve core 48 is used to charge can 10 with a suitable gas, under pressure, such as air, nitrogen, etc. An O-ring seal 88 is mounted in a groove as shown to seal the threads at 42 against leakage.

In operation, the device is grasped by handle 16, aimed at the object to be sprayed and actuator 31 is urged inwardly with the operators thumb acting against the force of spring 29. This action moves rod 17 inwardly in passage 18 and against ball valve 22. Ball valve 22 and diaphragm 80 are driven downward to unseat valve stem 23. The gas pressure inside can it) forces the gas-inliquid dispersion up through tube 27 through bore 24, the space above fitting 26, through bore 36 and out through orifice 39 in nozzle 38 in the form of a jet of spray. The passage of the fluid through the V-shaped ofi-set radial grooves 84 and 86 imparts a whirling movement to it in the orifice 3? which it possesses as it leaves the orifice, this movement enhancing the spray effect. The spray is shut off by releasing actuator 31 so that spring 29 forces rod 17 outwardly until pin 32 in slot 33 stops the movement. Retaining ball valve 22 is forced back into seating position at the upper end of bore 24 to permit reseating of valve stem 23 to stop the flow of the gas-in-liquid dispersion.

When the pressure and/ or liquid inside can 10 are too low for satisfactory operation, the can is recharged with liquid and/or gas. Recharging with liquid is accomplished by unscrewing plug cap 43 from lid 13 and introducing suitable supply of the liquid into the can. Overfilling is prevented by observation of the liquid level in sight tube 41. Plug cap 43 is again tightly screwed onto lid 13. A supply of gas under pressure, such as a bottle of air, nitrogen or carbon dioxide, for example, is connected to valve connection 52 and gas is introduced into can 10 through the action of tire valve core 48. Alternatively, an air pump can be connected to valve connection 52 and air can be pumped into can 10 as in the case of pumping air into a tire. When relief valve 44 pops the introduction of gas into can 10 is stopped so that a safe, predetermined pressure is automatically established by the relief valve to complete the liquid and gas recharging operation. The relief valve 44 is also used as a safety feature for relieving internal gas pressure before either the lid 13 of plug cap 43 can be removed for refilling with liquid or for other purpose &

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, an air recharging pump is built into the aerosol spray device as an integral part thereof to replace the external pressure source, tire valve core 48 and connection 52. The pump includes a pump cylinder or barrel 56, which is designed to fit inside tube 41, and is integrally connected to a plug cap 57. Plug cap 57 is threadedly mounted in lid 13 and is sealed against leakage by an O-ring S. Slidably mounted inside barrel 56 and plug cap 57 is a piston 59 and rod 60 assembly. Piston 59 is provided with an O-ring 61 made of suitable, chemical resistant material such as a synthetic elastomer or rubber. Piston rod 60 is tubular and its internal bore communicates with a bore 62 formed through the central axis of piston 59. The upper end of pison rod 60 is threadedly connected to a knob 63 as shown at 64. Knob 63 also is provided with a bore 66 formed through its central axis to complete a communicating passage from the atmosphere through bore 66, the bore of piston rod 60 and bore 62 to the interior 67 of barrel 56 below piston 59.

A retainer plug 68 is threaded or press fitted into the lower end of barrel 56 and is provided with an axial bore 69 and a diametrical bore 71 which communicates with bore 69 to extend the path of communication from the atmosphere through bore 66 to the inside of can 10. A resilient band 72, made of suitable, chemical resistant material such as a synthetic elastomer or rubber, is mounted around retainer plug 68 over the two open ends of diametrical bore 71 formed through the plug. Both O-ring 61 and band 72 can be made of Buna N synthetic elastorner which is chemically stable toward oil and many aerosol spray liquids.

When it is desired to repressurize can 10 with gas, knob 63 is grasped in the hand and pulled vertically upward to withdraw piston rod 60 from barrel 56 and lift piston 59 to the top of the barrel. During this upstroke bore 66 is kept open to the atmosphere so that the inside of barrel 56 below piston 59 is filled with air at atmospheric pressure. The gas originally in bar-rel 56 either bypasses O-ring 61 or is forced into the atmosphere'through the clearance between plug cap 57 and piston rod 60. The top of bore 66 then is closed with the 'operators thumb and knob 63 is forced downwardly with piston 59 to the position shown in FIG. 6. During this downward stroke air in barrel 56 is compressed and forced under pressure of the downward stroke through bores 69 and 71' to force resilient band 72 outwardly from the open ends of bore 71 and permit the compressed air to enter the inside of can 10 and pressurize the contents of the can. The op erators thumb is then withdrawn from the top of bore 66 and the upstroke of piston 59 is repeated. During the upstroke, resilient band 72 closes the ends of diametrical bore 71 and seals the liquid and gas fiuid contents of can 10 from entering the bore. The oper-ators thumb is again placed over the top of bore 66 at the top of the upstroke and the downstroke is repeated to force more air into the inside of can 10. This cycle of strokes is repeated until the desired repressurizing has been accomplished or until the operator is unable to seal bore 66 with his thumb during the downstroke. It is thus seen that bore 66 functions to prevent over-pressurization. Several downstrokes usually are sufficient to accomplish the desired air repressurization.

Still another specific embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment tire valve core 76 is used wit-bout a ball valve, and an O-ring on rod 78 is used to seal in liquid and gas during spraying and prevent back-pressure from occurring at the outer end of the passage. In the embodiment of FIG. 7 the actuator 77, when pressed by the operators thumb, urges rod 78 into engagement with the protruding pin of tire valve core 76 to open a passage from inside can 10 through supply tube 79 and nozzle 38 to produce a jet of spray. In other respects, the construction and operation of the embodiment of FIG. 7 resembles that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5.

Obviously, many other modifications and variations of the aerosol spray device of the present invention are possible in the light of the teachings given hereinabove. It is, therefore, to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims the invention can be practiced otherwith than as specifically described in connection with the appended drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol spray device comprising: a cannister; a removable lid for said cannister; a removable plug cap attached in a hole extending through said lid; a sight tube axially aligned with said hole and attached to the bottom of said lid; a gas repressurization valve in said plug cap; a relief valve in said plug cap; said lid having a longitudinal passageway and a vertical passageway therein connected together and a nozzle bore connected to the upper end of said vertical passageway; a supply tube sup ported at the bottom of said vertical passageway; a control valve in said vertical passageway controlling the passage of fluid from said vertical passageway to said nozzle bore; a ball valve element seated in the top of said vertical passageway for actuating said control valve; an actuating rod in said passageway for actuating said ball valve element and normally spring-biased out of actuating contact with said ball valve; a nozzle in said nozzle bore having :a channel and an orifice; a nozzle plug in said channel having a bevelled front face and a pair of off-set References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1915 Gage 23936() 10/1930 Kollrnann 239355 Hummel 239-373 Davis 239331 Cushing 239-373 Toniasek 239373 White 239-367 Smalley 239344 Kochner 239344 M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner.

10 R. S. STROBEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AEROSOL SPRAY DEVICE COMPRISING: A CANNISTER; A REMOVABLE LID FOR SAID CANNISTER; A REMOVABLE PLUG CAP ATTACHED IN A HOLE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID LID; A SIGHT TUBE AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID HOLE AND ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID LID; A GAS REPRESSURIZATION VALVE IN SAID PLUG CAP; A RELIEF VALVE IN SAID PLUG CAP; SAID LID HAVING A LONGITUDINAL PASSAGEWAY AND A VERTICAL PASSAGEWAY THEREIN CONNECTED TOGETHER AND A NOZZLE BORE CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID VERTICAL PASSAGEWAY; A SUPPLY TUBE SUPPORTED AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID VERTICAL PASSAGEWAY; A CONTROL VALVE IN SAID VERTICAL PASSAGEWAY CONTROLLING THE PASSAGE OF FLUID FROM SAID VERTICAL PASSAGEWAY TO SAID NOZZLE BORE; A BALL VALVE ELEMENT SEATED IN THE TOP OF SAID VERTICAL PASSAGEWAY FOR ACTUATING SAID CONTROL VALVE; AN ACTUATING ROD IN SAID PASSAGEWAY FOR ACTUATING SAID BALL VALVE ELEMENT AND NORMALLY SPRING-BIASED OUT OF ACTUATING CONTACT WITH SAID VALVE; A NOZZLE IN SAID NOZZLE BORE HAVING A CHANNEL AND AN ORIFICE; A NOZZLE PLUG IN SAID CHANNEL HAVING A BEVELLED FRONT FACE AND A PAIR OF OFF-SET RADIAL GROOVES IN SAID FRONT FACE CONNECTING SAID CHANNEL AND SAID ORIFICE WHEREBY A WHIRLING MOTION IS IMPARTED TO LIQUID LEAVING SAID ORIFICE. 